by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass - If the question remains whether Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is elite, his counterpart for the New England Patriots seems to be voting on the positive side.

Asked about facing Flacco in the AFC Championship Game for a second straight season, Brady praised Flacco, who has made the playoffs in each of his five years as Baltimore's starter.

"Joe's done a great job since he came into the league," Brady said in a Wednesday press conference. "I've watched a lot of film on him and his offense this year. Over the last few years I didn't have a chance to do that. He's a great leader."

Flacco is currently the highest-rated passer in the postseason, registering a 120.0 rating by throwing for 613 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in his past two games. Brady's performance against Houston last Sunday has him second with a 115.0 rating.

The Ravens quarterback outplayed Brady when the teams met in Week 3, completing 28 of 39 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns in Baltimore's 31-30 primetime victory.

"To put your team in this position takes a lot of guys but they have a lot of confidence in Joe," Brady said. "He does a lot of really good things."